Pat Dorsey, retired dentist, dies at 67

M. Patrice “Pat” Palm Dorsey died peacefully at home on March 25 at the age of 67, after 41 years of marriage to her beloved husband, William Dorsey III.

She was born to Dr. and Mrs. Irvin D. Palm on August 13, 1952, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg in 1975, she attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and received her doctorate of dental surgery in 1978.

Later in 1978, she married her husband while they were both attending Meharry. She established the first dental clinic in rural Hurtsboro, Alabama, in 1979 and practiced there until 1981, when Skip finished his ophthalmology residency in Tuskegee. Their first child, William “Chip” IV, was born in 1980. Their second child, Jon, was born in 1982, and their third, Stephen, in 1986.

In 1982, she opened a private general dental practice in Chicago.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Irvin D. Palm Jr., and her sister, Vivian E. Goodwin.

She is survived by her husband, three sons, sister-in-law Dewana, grandsons Miles and Maxwell and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be limited viewing on Tuesday, March 31, from 2-9 p.m. at A.A. Rayner and Sons Funeral Home, 318 E. 71st St. The family will not attend the viewing, and the interment will be private.

Watch the guestbook.Stop watching this guestbook.

(1) entry

Dr William and sons, it is with my deepest sympathy that I offer my condolences on the loss of you Wife/Mom. When we received the message that Pattie as we called our beloved classmate, it was extremely painful to know that she was no longer here on earth. We believe that being as caring as she was she has now a new home that we all aspire to move to. I have shared Pattie’s obituary and am praying as we all are for you all’s healing. Pattie’s Dad was the Infirmary doctor when we were students at South Carolina State University in the 70s. The Class of 1974 will remember Pattie when we celebrate our 50 year Anniversary in May 2024 in Orangeburg, SC.

Sign the guestbook.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.